v, 161 leaves : ill., tables, maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Genetics, 1979

Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Genetics, 1979.

My thesis examines the evolutionary significance of polydomy using the ant Iridomyrmex purpureus as a model species. In polydomous colonies, several nests are separated spatially, but connected socially by the interchange of workers, brood and food. The nature of interactions among ants from different nests of a polydomous colony varies from totally cooperative to indifference, and often the different nests within a colony may have some kind of separate identity. Polydomy is fairly common among ants, and while it has attracted some theoretical attention, there have been few empirical studies. (For complete abstract open document)